Play Now <br> <a href="https://picks.cbssports.com/college-basketball/ncaa-tournament/bracket" class="">Men's Brackets</a> <br> Play Now <br> <a href="https://picks.cbssports.com/college-basketball/ncaaw-tournament/bracket" class="">Women's Brackets</a> <br> <a href="/podcasts/fantasy-football-today-podcast/" class="">Tom Brady is Back</a> <br> <a href="/podcasts/nothing-personal-with-david-samson/" class="">Covering the impact of coronavirus on the sports world</a> <br>Happy March Madness, college basketball fans! The 2022 NCAA Tournament kicks off this week with the First Four as eight teams attempt to play their way into the Big Dance. With two games each day, these will serve as tasty appetizers to the main course that starts with the first round on Thursday.<br>Making things even more interesting is that oddsmakers and experts are split over which teams they expect to advance. All four game spreads are four points or less, which sets the stage for what could be a monumental tournament filled with upsets and surprises over the remaining few weeks.<br>While surviving and advancing is clearly what matters for most, we care about whether these teams will cover their spreads. Be sure to stick with CBS Sports throughout the rest of the month for <a href="/collegebasketball/ncaa-tournament" data-is-autolink="true">NCAA Tournament</a> coverage from the opening tipoff of the First Four through the end of the Final Four. Let's take a look at our expert picks as the first games get underway across Tuesday and Wednesday.<br><em>Odds via Caesars Sportsbook | All times Eastern</em> <br><strong>Tuesday, 6:40 p.m. | truTV, <a href="https://smart.link/xuc7340lkft16?game=101&device_id=device_id&cid=mml_partner_cbs_game&site_id=mml_partner_cbs_game" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">March Madness Live</a>: </strong>Texas Southern is the betting favorite in this Lone Star State showdown with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and it has the edge in experience over its cross-state foe thanks to a recent NCAA Tournament appearance last year under fourth-year coach Johnny Jones. But the Islanders of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is who I'd take in this matchup not only against the spread but on the moneyline. They've got a balanced group of seniors who came together down the stretch and are plenty capable of advancing into the main bracket despite their lack of tourney experience. <strong><em>Pick: Texas A&M-CC</em></strong><br>Spread <br>TXSO -3.5 <br>TXSO -3.5 <br>TXCC +3.5 <br>TXCC +3.5 <br>TXSO -3.5 <br>TXSO -3.5 <br>Straight up <br>TXSO <br>TXSO <br>TXCC <br>TXCC <br>TXSO <br>TXSO <br><strong>Tuesday, 9:10 p.m. | truTV, <a href="https://smart.link/xuc7340lkft16?game=102&device_id=device_id&cid=mml_partner_cbs_game&site_id=mml_partner_cbs_game" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">March Madness Live</a>: </strong>Under first year coach Mike Woodson, Indiana all season was something of an enigma because of its inconsistent play despite an impressive roster of talent. That talent seems to finally be clicking, though, after the Hoosiers knocked off <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/MICH/michigan-wolverines/">Michigan</a> and <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/ILL/illinois-fighting-illini/">Illinois</a> in consecutive Big Ten Tournament contests to scoot into the play-in game. They match up really well against a Wyoming team that flailed to the finish line with five losses in its final nine games. IU should be able to handle the Cowboys if it picks up where it left off, so I'd lay the points here with the Hoosiers.<strong><em> Pick: Indiana -4</em></strong><br>Spread <br>WYO +4<br>WYO +4 <br>IND -4<br>IND -4 <br>IND -4 <br>WYO +4 <br>Straight up <br>WYO<br>WYO <br>IND<br>IND<br>IND<br>WYO <br><strong>Wednesday, 6:40 pm. | truTV, <a href="https://smart.link/xuc7340lkft16?game=103&device_id=device_id&cid=mml_partner_cbs_game&site_id=mml_partner_cbs_game" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">March Madness Live</a>:</strong> Bryant has won 16 of its last 17 games and demolished <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/WAGNER/wagner-seahawks/">Wagner</a> by 27 points in the NEC title game thanks to senior <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/players/playerpage/2375646/peter-kiss">Peter Kiss</a> and his 34 points. It is as hot as any team right now in the bracket. I'm grabbing the points with the Bulldogs and betting on Kiss to help finesse Bryant to its first NCAA Tournament win at the Division I level. <strong><em>Pick: Bryant +2</em></strong><br>Spread <br>BRY +2<br>BRY +2 <br>WRST -2<br>BRY +2 <br>BRY +2 <br>BRY +2 <br>Straight up <br>BRY<br>BRY <br>WRST<br>BRY <br>BRY <br>BRY <br><strong>Wednesday, 9:10 p.m. | truTV, <a href="https://smart.link/xuc7340lkft16?game=103&device_id=device_id&cid=mml_partner_cbs_game&site_id=mml_partner_cbs_game" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">March Madness Live</a>:</strong> Notre Dame getting into the field of 68 was something of a Selection Sunday surprise. The ACC had a really down year, and ND's credentials outside wins over <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/UK/kentucky-wildcats/">Kentucky</a> and UNC were nothing to ride home about. I'd take the free point with Rutgers. They were up and down all season, but the highs were pretty good, and the Ron Harper Jr.-Geo Baker-Cliff Omoruyi combo is good enough to get this done in an upset. <strong><em>Pick: Rutgers +1</em></strong><br>Spread <br>RUTG +1<br>ND -1<br>RUTG +1 <br>RUTG +1 <br>RUTG +1 <br>ND -1 <br>Straight up <br>RUTG<br>ND<br>RUTG<br>RUTG<br>RUTG<br>ND<br><strong>Get every pick, every play, every upset and fill out your bracket with our help! </strong><a href="https://www.sportsline.com/insiders/2022-ncaa-tournament-optimal-bracket-simulation-model-on-epic-run-reveals-picks-predictions/?ttag=SL22_lk_cbssports_cbb_editorialoptimalbracket"><strong>Visit SportsLine now to see which teams will make and break your bracket</strong></a><strong> and who will cut down the nets, all from the model that beat over 92% of all CBS Sports brackets for the second time in three tournaments!</strong><br>© 2004-2022 CBS Interactive. All Rights Reserved.<br>CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc.<br>Images by Getty Images and US Presswire<br><br><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2022-march-madness-predictions-expert-ncaa-bracket-picks-against-the-spread-odds-for-first-four-games/">source</a>
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